Feelings & Other Uncomfortable Things

Get in your feels with this artistic experience centered around listening to music and creating a collage. Immerse yourself in the emotions and memories that music can make you feel and then reflect on them to create a collage to take home. All you need to do is bring yourself! No art experience needed.

Music will be performed by pianist Christina Lai, flutist Delara Hashemi, and violinist Pedro Maia. Collage making class will be led by artist Ina Liu.

Music estimated length: 30 minutes

Program Notes

24 Preludes, Op. 28

The purpose of a prelude has always been to establish the mood of something which is to follow, anticipating its basic characteristics. (ie. an introduction) Instead, each of Chopin’s Preludes may be understood as containing the essence of an entire world of feelings – it is left to the receptive listener to fill in the detailed picture in his mind. (Reinhard Schulz)

Departure for Flute and Piano

In this work, the composer is loyal to the pivotal tone ‎and tonal relationships while innovative in using rhythmic and melodic materials. The title refers to the ‎time when the composer had to leave her family and home country to continue her studies abroad.‎

Sonata for Violin and Piano

It is hard to say that Debussy died a happy man. His letters from 1914 until shortly before his death in March 1918, particularly those to his close friend of many years, Robert Godet, despair about his health, the war, and, from 1916, a growing depression that brought into question his own abilities and accomplishments.

Just before the premiere of his sonata for Violin and Piano, Debussy expressed great satisfaction with it, the last of his completed works. His opinion soon changed, however, and in a letter to Godet dated June 7, he wrote: “You should know, my too trusting friend, that I only wrote this Sonata to be rid of the thing, spurred on as I was by my dear publisher. You, who are able to read between the staves, will see traces of [Poe’s] The Imp of the Perverse, who encourages one to choose the very subject which should be ignored. This Sonata will be interesting from a documentary viewpoint and as an example of what may be produced by a sick man in time of war.” (LA Phil)